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'He wasn't born here；' responded Philip； dryly； 'and I was。'
'I think that's a quibble；' interrupted Bell。 'Papa was here twenty
years before you were。'
'It's not my fault that he came first；' answered Philip。 'Margery
and I are not only the oldest Californians present； but the only
ones。 Isn't that so； sir？'
'Quite correct。'
'Oh； if you mean that way； I suppose you are； but still papa helped
frame the Constitution； and was here on the first Admission Day； and
was one of the Vigilantesand I think that makes him more of a real
Californian than you。 You've just 〃grown up with the country。〃'
'Bless my soul！ What else could I do？ I would have been glad to
frame the Constitution； admit the State； and serve on the Vigilance
Committee； if they had only waited for me； but they went straight
ahead with the business； and when I was born there was nothing to do
but stand round and criticise what they had done； or； as you express
it； 〃grow up with the country。〃 Well； as I was saying when I was
interrupted'
'Beg pardon。'
'Don't mention it。 Uncle Doc has asked me to tell Mrs。 Howard and
Elsie how they carried on the rodeos ten or fifteen years ago。 Of
course I was only a little chap'（'VERY little；' murmured his
sister）'but never too small to stick on a horse； and my father used
often to take me along。 The rodeos nowadays are neither as great
occasions； nor as exciting ones； as they used to be； but this is the
way a rodeo is managed。 When the spring rains are mostly over； and
the grass is fine；say in Aprilthe ranchero of a certain ranch
sends word to all his neighbours that he will hold a rodeo on a
certain day or days。 Of course the cattle used to stray all over the
country； and get badly mixed； as there were no fences； so the rodeo
was held for the purpose of separating the cattle and branding the
calves that had never been marked。
'The owners of the various ranches assemble the night before；
bringing their vaqueros with them。 They start out very early in the
morning； having had a cup of coffee； and ride to the 〃rodeo…ground；〃
which is any flat； convenient place where canyons converge。 Many of
the cattle on the hills round about know the place； having been there
before； and the vaqueros start after them and drive them to the
spot。'
'How many vaqueros would there be？' asked Elsie。
'Oh； nine or ten； perhaps； and often from one thousand to three
thousand cattleit depends on the number of ranches and cattle
represented。 Some of the vaqueros form a circle round the cattle
that they have driven to the rodeo…ground； and hold them there while
others go back to the ranch for breakfast and fresh horses。'
'Fresh horses so soon？' said Mrs。 Howard。 'I thought the mustangs
were tough； hardy little beasts； that would go all day without
dropping。'
'Yes； so they are； but you always have to begin to 〃part out〃 the
cattle with the freshest and best…trained horses you have。 The
owners and their best vaqueros now go into the immense band of
cattle； and try to get the cows and the unbranded calves separated
from the rest。 You can imagine what skilful engineering this takes；
even though you never saw it。 Two work together； they start a
certain cow and calf and work them through the band of cattle until
they near the outside； and then 〃rush〃 them to a place three or four
hundred yards beyond； where other vaqueros are stationed to receive
and hold them。 Of course the cattle don't want to leave the band；
and of course they don't want to stay in the spot to which they are
driven。'
'I don't blame them！' cried Bell impetuously。 'Probably the cows
remember the time when they were branded themselves； and they don't
want their dear little bossies put through the same operation。'
'Very likely。 Then more cows and calves are started in the same way；
the greatest difficulty being had with the first lot； for the cattle
always stay more contentedly together as the group grows larger。
Occasionally one 〃breaks〃 and runs off on the hills； and a vaquero
starts after him； throws the reata and lassos him； or 〃lass's〃 him；
as the California boys say。'
'There must be frightful accidents；' said Mrs。 Winship。
'Yes； but not so many as you would suppose； for the horsemanship； in
its particular way； is something wonderful。 When an ugly steer is
lassoed and he feels the reata or lariat round his neck； he sometimes
turns and 〃makes〃 for the horse； and unless the vaquero is
particularly skilful he will be gored and his horse too； but he gives
a dexterous turn to the lariat； the animal steps over it； gets
tangled and thrown。 Frequently an animal breaks a horn or a leg。
Sometimes one fall is not enough； the steer jumps up and pursues the
horse。 Then the vaquero keeps a little ahead of him and leads him
back to the rodeo…ground； where another vaquero lassos him by the
hind legs and throws him； while the reata is taken off his neck。'
'There is another danger； too；' added Dr。 Winship。 'The vaquero
winds the reata very tightly round the pommel of his saddle to hold
the steer； and he is likely to have his finger caught in the hair…
rope and cut off。'
'Yes； I forgot that。 Two or three of the famous old vaqueros about
Santa BarbaraJose Maria； Jose Antonio； and old Clementehave each
lost a finger。 Well； the vaqueros at length form in a circle round
the band of selected cattle。 The ranch owner who gives the rodeo
takes his own cattle that he has foundthe ones bearing his brand；
you knowand drives them in with the ones to be branded； leaving in
the rodeo…ground the cattle bearing the brands of all the other
rancheros。 There has been much drinking of aguardiente （brandy） and
everybody by this time is pretty reckless。 Then they drive this
selected band to the home corral； the vaqueros yelling； the cattle
〃calling；〃 and the reatas whizzing and whistling through the air。 If
any unfortunate tries to escape his fate he is pursued； 〃lass'd；〃 and
brought back。 By this time the cattle are pretty well heated and
angry； and when they get into the crowded corral they horn each other
and try to gore the horses。 A fire is then built in one corner of
the corral and the branding…irons are heated。'
'Oh！ hold my hand； Polly； if the branding is going to begin； I hate
it so；' exclaimed Elsie。
'I won't say much about it； but it's no worse than a thousand things
that people have to bear every year of their lives。 Animals never
have to have teeth filled； for instance； nor limbs amputated'
'Oh； just think of a calf with a wooden leg； or a cow with false
teeth！ Wouldn't it be funny？' laughed Bell。
'They don't have a thousand ills that human flesh is heir to； so they
must be thankful they get off so easy。 Well！ the branding…irons are
heated； as I sayeach cattle…owner having his special brand； which
is properly recorded； and which may be any device not previously
used。 Two men now catch the calves； one lassoing them by the head；
the other by the legs。 A third man takes the iron from the fire and
brands the chosen letter or hieroglyphic on the animal's hind
quarter。'
'Sometimes on the fore quarter； don't they？' asked Bell。 'I've seen
brands there；your horse has two； and our cow has one also。'
'Yes； a brand on the fore quarter shows that the animal has been
sold； but it always has the original brand on the hind quarter。 When
a sale is effected； the new brand is put anywhere in front of the
fifth rib； and this constitutes what they call a venta； or sale。 If
you notice some of the little 〃plugs〃 ridden by Santa Barbara boys；
you'll see that they bear half a dozen brands。 By the way； if the
rodeo has been a very large one； they are several days branding the
cattle； so they are turned out to pastorear a little while each day。'
'The brand was absolute sign of ownership； you know； girls；' said Dr。
Winship； 'and though there was the greatest care exercised in
choosing and recording the brands； there was plenty of opportunity
for cheating。 For instance； a man would often see unbranded cattle
when riding about； and there was nothing to prevent his dismounting；
building a fire； heating his iron； and putting his own brand on them。
Then； at the next rodeo； they were simply turned over to him； for； as
I say； the brand was absolute ownership。'
'Whene'er I take my rides abroad；
How many calves I see；
And； as I brand them properly；
They all belong to me；'
said Bell。
'How I should like to see a rodeo！' sighed Elsie。 'I can't imagine
how the vaqueros can fling the reata while they are riding at full
speed。'
'It isn't so very wonderful；' said Polly； nonchalantly 'the most
ordinary people can learn it； why！ your brother Jack can lasso almost
as well as a Mexican。'
'And I can 〃lass〃 any stationary object myself；' cried Bell； 'a
hitching…post； or even a door…knob； I can do it two or three times
out of ten。'
'That shows immense skill；' answered Jack； 'but； as the thing you
want to 〃lass〃 never does stay still； and as it is absolutely
necessary to catch it more than three times out of ten； you probably
wouldn't make a name and fortune as a vaquero。 Juan Capistrano； by
the way； used to be famous with t